Today’s referendum in Greece is being used “as another ploy in a string of chess moves” by the Greek government, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna has told The Sunday Times of Malta.
The Greek electorate is being asked to accept or reject the bailout proposals made by the country’s creditors in a vote that many observers believe will effectively decide whether the country remains a member of the eurozone.
Prof. Scicluna, who has taken part in the negotiations between the eurozone’s finance ministers and Greece, said the referendum was not a “natural expected outcome” of the negotiations. “What was expected then was a vote from the Greek Parliament based on an agreed programme. Instead it was used as another ploy in a string of chess moves over a four month period which not only lost the government precious time but worse lost the trust of everyone in the European Union outside Greece itself,” he said.
He added: “This notwithstanding everyone is intelligent and mature enough to observe that the majority of the Greek people are victims of this charade and should be treated independently of the persons who represent them in the EU institutions.”
Asked about the possible consequences of a No vote today, Prof. Scicluna said that either way the vote will not be sending any clear signal.
“How can you read deeply into a hastened vote over an unintelligible question by a confused electorate?” he asked, in reference to the sudden decision by the Greek government to hold the referendum and the long and complicated question the Greek people will be asked on the ballot paper.
Prof. Scicluna, however, said that irrespective of the outcome of the referendum Greece “is and will remain a part of the EU family. Whether it is positioned inside or outside the EU doorstep it will always remain there.”
The Finance Minister said that while he believes the eurozone is technically prepared to withstand a Greek exit from the eurozone, from a political point of view such an outcome will “start an unstoppable unravelling of the euro, because the framework was not designed for such an eventuality”.
The left-wing Syriza-led government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has urged voters to reject the bailout package offered by the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank. Opponents of the government, however, warn this would see Greece ejected from the eurozone.
Last Tuesday, the previous eurozone bailout expired, depriving Greece of access to billions of euros, and Athens missed a €1.5 billion repayment to the IMF. Banks have been shut all week, capital controls imposed and limits imposed on cash withdrawals.
The latest opinion polls show the country to be evenly split on the bailout package with Yes supporters at 44 per cent and No at 43 per cent, and the rest undecided.